Legal claims defining the scope of protection. Each claim is shown in both the original legal language and a plain English translation.
1. An electrosurgical generator comprising: an output stage coupled to an electrical energy source and configured to generate radio frequency (RF) electrosurgical energy; a plurality of sensors configured to sense a voltage waveform and a current waveform of the electrosurgical energy; and a controller coupled to the output stage and the plurality of sensors, the controller including: a signal processor configured to determine a Root Mean Square (RMS) voltage, an RMS current, an average power, and a real part of an impedance based on the sensed voltage waveform and the sensed current waveform using a plurality of moving average filters including a first moving average filter, a second moving average filter, and a third moving average filter; and an output controller configured to generate a control signal to control the output stage based on at least one of the RMS voltage, the RMS current, the average power, and the real part of the impedance, wherein the first moving average filter outputs mean square voltage, wherein the second moving average filter outputs the average power, wherein the third moving average filter outputs mean square current, and wherein the real part of the impedance is calculated by dividing the average power by the mean square current.
Electrosurgical generators deliver radio frequency (RF) energy for cutting or coagulating tissue during surgical procedures. A key challenge is accurately monitoring and controlling the delivered energy to ensure precise and safe tissue effects. Traditional systems may struggle with real-time impedance measurement and power control, leading to potential inefficiencies or risks. This invention describes an electrosurgical generator with improved energy delivery control. The generator includes an output stage that generates RF electrosurgical energy from an electrical source. Multiple sensors measure the voltage and current waveforms of the delivered energy. A controller processes these signals using three moving average filters to compute key electrical parameters. The first filter calculates the mean square voltage, the second filter determines the average power, and the third filter outputs the mean square current. The real part of the impedance is derived by dividing the average power by the mean square current. The controller then adjusts the output stage based on these parameters, ensuring precise control of the delivered energy. This approach enhances real-time monitoring and adaptive power delivery, improving surgical outcomes and safety.
2. The electrosurgical generator according to claim 1 , wherein the signal processor includes: a plurality of multipliers configured to square the voltage waveform and square the current waveform, and configured to multiply the voltage waveform and the current waveform to obtain a power waveform; and a calculator configured to calculate the RMS voltage based on the averaged voltage waveform and calculate the RMS current based on the averaged current waveform.
Technical Summary: This invention relates to electrosurgical generators, specifically improving the accuracy of power measurement during electrosurgical procedures. The problem addressed is the need for precise real-time monitoring of electrical parameters such as voltage, current, and power to ensure safe and effective tissue treatment. Traditional methods often suffer from inaccuracies due to waveform distortion and non-linearities in the electrical signals. The invention describes an electrosurgical generator with an enhanced signal processor. The signal processor includes multiple multipliers that perform three key operations: squaring the voltage waveform, squaring the current waveform, and multiplying the voltage and current waveforms to generate a power waveform. Additionally, the signal processor includes a calculator that computes the root-mean-square (RMS) voltage from the averaged voltage waveform and the RMS current from the averaged current waveform. These calculations provide accurate measurements of electrical parameters, which are critical for controlling the generator's output and ensuring consistent tissue effects. By processing the waveforms in this manner, the generator can deliver precise energy to tissue while minimizing errors caused by signal variations. This improvement is particularly valuable in surgical applications where accurate power delivery is essential for patient safety and procedural efficacy. The invention enhances the reliability of electrosurgical systems by providing a more robust method for measuring and controlling electrical parameters.
3. The electrosurgical generator according to claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of analog-to-digital converters configured to sample the sensed voltage waveform and the sensed current waveform to obtain a predetermined number of samples of each of the sensed voltage waveform and the sensed current waveform.
Electrosurgical generators are used in medical procedures to deliver controlled electrical energy for cutting or coagulating tissue. A key challenge is accurately monitoring and controlling the delivered energy to ensure safe and effective treatment. Traditional systems often rely on limited sampling of voltage and current waveforms, which can lead to inaccuracies in energy delivery and tissue effects. This invention improves electrosurgical generators by incorporating multiple analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) to sample both the sensed voltage and current waveforms. These ADCs capture a predetermined number of samples from each waveform, enabling high-resolution monitoring of the electrical parameters during treatment. By increasing the sampling rate and precision, the system can more accurately track the energy delivered to tissue, improving control over surgical outcomes. The sampled data can be used for real-time feedback, ensuring the generator adjusts power delivery dynamically to maintain desired tissue effects. This enhances safety by reducing the risk of overheating or unintended tissue damage while improving the precision of surgical procedures. The use of multiple ADCs allows for parallel processing, ensuring that waveform data is captured without delays, which is critical for real-time applications. This approach addresses limitations in prior systems that relied on lower sampling rates or single-channel conversions, which could miss critical waveform details. The invention is particularly useful in advanced electrosurgical applications where precise energy control is essential, such as in minimally invasive or robotic-assisted surgeries.
4. The electrosurgical generator according to claim 3 , wherein the predetermined number of samples corresponds to an integer multiple of a RF frequency of the voltage waveform and the current waveform.
This invention relates to an electrosurgical generator designed to improve the accuracy of impedance measurements during electrosurgical procedures. The generator includes a signal processing system that samples voltage and current waveforms to calculate impedance. A key feature is the use of a predetermined number of samples that corresponds to an integer multiple of the RF frequency of the voltage and current waveforms. This ensures precise synchronization between the sampled data and the waveform cycles, reducing measurement errors caused by phase misalignment. The generator also includes a control system that adjusts the sampling rate based on the RF frequency to maintain synchronization. Additionally, the system may include a filtering mechanism to remove noise from the sampled waveforms before impedance calculation. The invention addresses the challenge of obtaining accurate impedance measurements in real-time during electrosurgical procedures, where variations in tissue properties and RF frequency can introduce errors. By synchronizing the sampling process with the waveform frequency, the generator provides more reliable impedance feedback, which is critical for safe and effective electrosurgical operations.
5. The electrosurgical generator according to claim 1 , wherein the moving averaging filters are selected from the group consisting of Cascaded Integrator Comb (CIC) filters, boxcar averaging filters, finite impulse response filters, infinite impulse response filters, and any combination of these moving average filters.
This invention relates to electrosurgical generators, which are devices used in surgical procedures to cut or coagulate tissue using electrical energy. A key challenge in electrosurgical systems is accurately monitoring and controlling the electrical output to ensure safe and effective tissue treatment while minimizing interference from noise or signal artifacts. The invention describes an electrosurgical generator that includes a signal processing system with moving averaging filters to improve the accuracy of output measurements. These filters are designed to smooth and stabilize the electrical signals used for monitoring and controlling the generator's output. The moving averaging filters can be selected from various types, including Cascaded Integrator Comb (CIC) filters, boxcar averaging filters, finite impulse response (FIR) filters, infinite impulse response (IIR) filters, or any combination of these. Each filter type has specific advantages in terms of computational efficiency, signal smoothing, and noise reduction, allowing the system to adapt to different surgical requirements. By incorporating these filters, the generator can provide more precise and reliable measurements of electrical parameters, such as voltage and current, which are critical for safe and effective electrosurgical procedures. The use of multiple filter options ensures flexibility in optimizing performance based on the specific needs of the surgery or the characteristics of the tissue being treated.
6. The electrosurgical generator according to claim 1 , wherein the output controller generates the control signal based on a difference between the real part of the impedance and a desired real part of the impedance, the control signal being used to control the output stage.
This invention relates to electrosurgical generators designed to deliver controlled electrical energy for surgical procedures. The primary challenge addressed is maintaining precise control of the output power to ensure effective tissue treatment while minimizing unintended thermal damage. Traditional electrosurgical generators often struggle with impedance mismatches, leading to inconsistent energy delivery and potential harm to surrounding tissues. The invention features an electrosurgical generator with an output controller that dynamically adjusts the output based on impedance feedback. Specifically, the output controller generates a control signal derived from the difference between the real part of the measured impedance and a predefined desired real impedance value. This control signal is then used to regulate the output stage, ensuring that the delivered energy remains within optimal parameters. The real part of the impedance is particularly significant as it represents the resistive component, which directly influences power dissipation in tissue. By continuously monitoring and adjusting the output in response to impedance changes, the generator can maintain stable and predictable energy delivery, improving surgical precision and safety. This closed-loop control mechanism helps mitigate issues such as arcing, excessive heating, or inadequate coagulation, which are common in conventional systems. The invention is particularly useful in procedures requiring fine-tuned energy delivery, such as cutting, coagulation, or ablation, where maintaining consistent tissue effects is critical.
7. The electrosurgical generator according to claim 2 , wherein the plurality of moving average filters are identical to each other.
Technical Summary: This invention relates to electrosurgical generators, specifically addressing the need for improved signal processing in such devices. Electrosurgical generators are used to deliver electrical energy to tissue during surgical procedures, and precise control of this energy is critical for safety and effectiveness. The invention focuses on a system that includes multiple moving average filters to process signals within the generator. These filters are designed to smooth and stabilize the electrical signals, ensuring consistent and controlled energy delivery to the tissue. The moving average filters operate by averaging a series of input signal values over time, which helps reduce noise and fluctuations in the output. The key feature of this invention is that all the moving average filters in the system are identical to each other. This uniformity ensures that the signal processing is consistent across different parts of the generator, leading to more reliable performance. By using identical filters, the system avoids discrepancies that could arise from variations in filter characteristics, thereby improving the overall stability and accuracy of the electrosurgical output. This approach is particularly useful in applications where precise energy delivery is required, such as in cutting, coagulation, or ablation procedures. The identical filters ensure that the generator can maintain stable performance under varying conditions, enhancing both the safety and effectiveness of the surgical procedure. The invention thus provides a technical solution to the problem of signal instability in electrosurgical generators by standardizing the filtering process.
8. The electrosurgical generator according to claim 2 , wherein the plurality of moving average filters are low pass filters.
This invention relates to an electrosurgical generator designed to improve the stability and precision of electrosurgical procedures by incorporating a plurality of moving average filters. Electrosurgical generators are used in medical procedures to deliver controlled electrical energy to tissue, but fluctuations in output power can lead to inconsistent results. The invention addresses this by using moving average filters to smooth the output signal, reducing noise and ensuring more stable energy delivery. The filters are specifically configured as low-pass filters, which attenuate high-frequency noise while preserving the desired low-frequency components of the signal. This configuration helps maintain the integrity of the surgical waveform while minimizing unwanted variations. The generator includes a control system that processes input signals, such as voltage and current measurements, through these filters to generate a refined output. The use of multiple filters allows for further refinement, ensuring that the delivered energy is both precise and consistent. This approach enhances the reliability of electrosurgical devices, improving safety and effectiveness during procedures. The invention is particularly useful in applications requiring high precision, such as cutting or coagulation, where stable energy delivery is critical.
9. The electrosurgical generator according to claim 3 , wherein the plurality of moving average filters operate synchronously over the same predetermined number of samples of each of the voltage waveform and the current waveform.
This invention relates to electrosurgical generators, specifically improving the accuracy of impedance measurement during electrosurgical procedures. The problem addressed is the need for precise and synchronized processing of voltage and current waveforms to accurately determine tissue impedance, which is critical for safe and effective electrosurgical operations. The electrosurgical generator includes a plurality of moving average filters that process both voltage and current waveforms. These filters operate synchronously, meaning they analyze the same predetermined number of samples from each waveform simultaneously. This synchronization ensures that the voltage and current data used for impedance calculations are temporally aligned, reducing measurement errors caused by phase shifts or timing discrepancies. The filters apply a moving average algorithm to smooth the waveforms, which helps eliminate high-frequency noise and transient artifacts that could distort impedance readings. By processing the waveforms in this synchronized manner, the generator provides more accurate and reliable impedance measurements, enabling better control of energy delivery during electrosurgical procedures. This is particularly important in applications where precise tissue response monitoring is required, such as in cutting, coagulation, or ablation modes. The synchronized operation of the filters ensures that the impedance calculations reflect the true electrical properties of the tissue being treated, enhancing both safety and efficacy.
10. The electrosurgical generator according to claim 5 , wherein each of the plurality of moving average filters is a CIC filter having at least one integrator, at least one differentiator, and at least one decimator.
This invention relates to electrosurgical generators, specifically improving signal processing in such devices. Electrosurgical generators are used in medical procedures to deliver controlled electrical energy to tissue, but accurate monitoring and control of the output signal is critical for safety and effectiveness. The invention addresses the need for precise signal filtering to remove noise and artifacts while preserving the integrity of the electrosurgical waveform. The generator includes a plurality of moving average filters designed to process the output signal. These filters are implemented as cascaded integrator-comb (CIC) filters, which are efficient for high-speed signal processing. Each CIC filter comprises at least one integrator, at least one differentiator, and at least one decimator. The integrator stages accumulate input samples to reduce high-frequency noise, while the differentiator stages restore the original signal shape. The decimator reduces the sampling rate, improving computational efficiency without significant signal degradation. This configuration ensures accurate real-time monitoring of the electrosurgical waveform, enhancing both performance and safety during procedures. The use of CIC filters provides a balance between computational efficiency and signal fidelity, making the generator suitable for demanding surgical applications.
11. The electrosurgical generator according to claim 10 , wherein the order of the CIC filter is four, the at least one decimator has a decimation factor of sixteen, and the predetermined number of samples is two.
This invention relates to an electrosurgical generator designed to process and analyze electrical signals during surgical procedures. The generator includes a digital signal processing system that filters and decimates high-frequency electrical signals to reduce data volume while preserving critical information. The system employs a cascaded integrator-comb (CIC) filter to remove unwanted high-frequency components from the signal. The CIC filter is configured with an order of four, meaning it applies four stages of integration and comb filtering to achieve effective noise reduction. After filtering, the signal is passed through a decimator, which reduces the sampling rate by a factor of sixteen, significantly lowering the data rate for further processing. The system then extracts a predetermined number of samples, specifically two samples, from the decimated signal for analysis. This approach ensures efficient signal processing while maintaining the necessary resolution for accurate surgical monitoring and control. The invention addresses the need for real-time, high-fidelity signal analysis in electrosurgical applications, where processing efficiency and data integrity are critical.
12. The electrosurgical generator according to claim 1 , wherein the output stage is configured to generate electrosurgical energy to treat tissue.
An electrosurgical generator is designed to deliver controlled electrical energy for surgical procedures, addressing the need for precise tissue treatment while minimizing collateral damage. The generator includes an output stage that produces electrosurgical energy tailored for tissue treatment, ensuring effective cutting, coagulation, or ablation. This stage may incorporate features such as adjustable power levels, waveform modulation, or feedback mechanisms to optimize energy delivery based on tissue characteristics. The generator may also include a user interface for selecting treatment modes, monitoring parameters, or adjusting settings in real-time. Additionally, safety mechanisms such as current limiting, thermal protection, or fault detection may be integrated to prevent overheating or unintended tissue damage. The system may further include communication interfaces for integration with surgical instruments, imaging systems, or hospital networks, enabling coordinated workflows and data logging. The generator is designed to operate across various surgical applications, including open surgery, laparoscopic procedures, or minimally invasive interventions, while maintaining reliability and performance under demanding conditions.
13. The electrosurgical generator according to claim 2 , wherein the calculator further calculates phase information between the voltage waveform and the current waveform by dividing the average power by a produce of the RMS voltage and the RMS current.
This invention relates to electrosurgical generators, specifically improving power measurement accuracy in such devices. Electrosurgical generators deliver electrical energy to tissue for cutting or coagulation, but accurate power measurement is challenging due to non-linear loads and varying tissue impedance. The invention addresses this by providing a method to calculate phase information between voltage and current waveforms, which is critical for precise power measurement. The generator includes a calculator that computes phase information by dividing the average power by the product of the root-mean-square (RMS) voltage and RMS current. This calculation allows the generator to determine the phase angle between voltage and current, which is essential for accurate power measurement in electrosurgical applications. The phase information helps compensate for reactive power components, ensuring that the delivered power is measured correctly despite variations in tissue impedance. Additionally, the generator may include a power supply, an output stage, and a feedback system to monitor and adjust the delivered power based on the calculated phase information. The feedback system ensures that the generator maintains consistent performance, even as tissue properties change during surgery. This invention improves the reliability and safety of electrosurgical procedures by providing more accurate power measurements, which are crucial for effective tissue treatment.
14. The electrosurgical generator according to claim 1 , wherein the output stage is a RF amplifier.
An electrosurgical generator is designed to deliver radiofrequency (RF) energy for surgical procedures, addressing the need for precise and controlled energy delivery to minimize tissue damage and improve surgical outcomes. The generator includes an output stage configured as an RF amplifier, which converts input signals into high-frequency RF energy suitable for electrosurgical applications. The RF amplifier ensures efficient power transfer, stability, and precise control over the energy delivered to the surgical site. This design allows for consistent performance across various surgical techniques, including cutting, coagulation, and ablation. The RF amplifier may incorporate features such as impedance matching, feedback control, and thermal management to optimize energy delivery and maintain system reliability. By using an RF amplifier in the output stage, the generator achieves high efficiency, reduced energy loss, and improved safety, making it suitable for advanced electrosurgical procedures. The system may also include additional components, such as a power supply, control circuitry, and user interfaces, to enhance usability and performance. This configuration ensures that the generator meets the demands of modern surgical environments, providing surgeons with reliable and precise energy delivery for improved patient outcomes.
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December 3, 2019
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